A new perspective: Periodontal ligament is a viscoelastic fluid biomaterial as evidenced by dynamic shear creep...

Currently, Periodontal ligament (PDL) is considered as a viscoelastic solid biomaterial. However, we observed the steady-state rheological behavior of PDL through long time loading experiments, and suggested the theoretical definition of PDL as a viscoelastic fluid biomaterial. PDL specimens were prepared from the middle area of the mandibular central incisors in pigs. Dynamic force loading with frequencies of 0 (static load), 2, 5, and 10 Hz and amplitudes of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 MPa was adopted. The shear strain-time curve at the equilibrium position of PDL was obtained by a dynamic shear creep experiment. The results showed that the shear strain increased exponentially at first and then inclined toward an oblique line. The results showed that the PDL has viscoelastic fluid characteristics, independent of frequency and amplitude. The shear strain decreased with an increase in frequency and amplitude. To further analyze the viscoelastic characteristics of PDL, a 50000-s static shear creep experiment was re-designed. PDL exhibited viscoelastic fluid biomaterial characteristics according to the three aspects of the algebraic fitting, geometric characteristics, and physical results. For the first time, a viscoelastic fluid constitutive model was established to characterize the mechanical properties of PDL with high fitting accuracy. Furthermore, the shear viscosity coefficient of the dynamic load was larger than that of the static load, increasing with an increase in frequency and amplitude; compared with the static force, the dynamic force improved the viscosity of PDL, enhancing its function of fixing teeth, and introducing the new medical knowledge of "No tooth extraction after a meal."